125TDI Tuning

[dopey]

Hi All,

Just wanted to find out if anybody here has had their Passat Diesel tuned? I've got a new 125TDI Passat and wouldn't mind a little bit more top end poke. There's a number of ECU Flash options available, I'm considering the MTM/Kraftwerk tune in particular but I am concerned that the 420nm of torque will be too much for a front wheel drive car. It struggles with the 350nm torque as it is so I am wondering if it's really worth pursuing more power, especially considering I have no plans for wider rubber up front.

If anybody with a TDI Passat has experience with this I would love to hear about it!

Thanks,
Ryan

[h100vw]

I have tuned a few mk5 TDIs, really livens them up. They aren't wheelspinning monsters either. You can soon drive without doing that even in the wet.

Fuel consumption isn't ruined by the extra power.

Gavin

[clip]

Hey dopey, good to hear there is someone else looking at modding their Passat, I'm definetly interested too. Although I went with APR for the TSI Tig, Custom Code do seem to have the name for the TDI's, but I haven't checked out MTM/Kraftwerk yet. Is there an Australian dealer?

[Greg Roles]

Custom Code would be my recommendation. No-one else as yet has invested as much time on the TDI's, especially on the DPF models. You also get real time driving tuning, not a generic plug and play one size fits all, and at a competitive price. The Passat, being heavier than the Golf, is perfect for extra torque. I've driven plenty of chipped 125's, and unless you really try, they don't wheelspin wildly. You have to remember these ratings are at the crank, what acytally gets to your fronts is a bit less, and traction control quickly tames the beast if you can't control your right foot!

[dopey]

Who does Custom Code in Sydney?


I emailed Tuning World about the Kraftwerk tune and received a prompt reply:


ECU tuning is the best possible way to extract more power from your car.

Power will be lifted by 35HP/26kw or 21% over standard,

Torque will be lifted by 70nm or 20% over standard.

There is a 5 year warranty on the tune, and if you decide to go back to the standard tune we have the file on our server ready to be downloaded back on.

All ECU tunes carried out are done within safety parameters to ensure engine longevity and safety

The tune is priced at $1238 inc. GST and installation can be carried out in our workshop based in Seven Hills, Sydney (about 30 mins from city CBD). The installation process is carried out overnight due to extracting the software via boot mode which is extracting the software through the ECU physically. Due to the labour involved the installation cost is $250 inc. GST.

[Greg Roles]

...so the total is $1238 plus $250?? I've not heard of anyone charging a labour cost on plugging in a laptop before, but then i guess people add that into their total price.....

Those power figures are pretty standard for a 125 tune, and that sort of money, if it is indeed a combined total, is on the upper end of things.....

[Highlander]

If anybody with a TDI Passat has experience with this I would love to hear about it!

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[cru22z]

Hi All,

Did you guys with TDI end up getting a tune? I've emailed alot of company with the ultimatum that If I get a tune,
I should have the option of reverting to stock without having to get the ECU pulled out again and then reflashed again every Dealer service. No one in AUs seems to have this option BUT unless I go for the plug and play type which I am not really interested in.

[cru22z]

Looks like I'm close to getting my tdi tuned just waiting
For that time ATO gives me a present.
Anyways has anyone here got a Passat tdi chipped?
I would like to know your experiences.
Thanks

[Greg Roles]

Ahh scratch my former comment, yours is a MK6 level diesel, and yep it is antitune, so ECU has to be removed for a "proper" tune. No way around that, physical fact of the ECU wiring. You can try a interceptro box, but personally I think they are very very crude at best.

I have tuned a current Jetta, but only for blue optimize, that is max economy and emission reduction. Nice wack of extra torque, and the guy is getting 1200kms plus a tank, but any performance tune on your car will be limited due to the DPF, although my 125 TDI was significantly better on a normal "performance" tune. Go beyond this, like I am now, and you will be producing a LOT of soot and doing far more frequent DPF regens, something I am currently experiencing. My tune is not a "release to public" one though.

I found better low down ( though your newer common rail already is over my MKV PD ) and another usable 1000 rpm of power up top over stock, made the TDI very "petrol like" in the mid to upper end. Smoothed out the 1700-2000 rpm torque wack, mainly by filling in before and after.

Whomever you go with, a tune is highly recommended!!